The History Boys

I’ve been lucky enough to have seen the History Boys on a number of occasions over the years so I was very much looking forward to the interpretation the Encore production team would bring to this classic play by Alan Bennett and I’m very happy to say that what the team had created, having a cast with both a straight plays and musical theatre background, surpassed even my high expectations.

Some may argue that when you start with such great material, the play having won the 2005 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play, it’s hard to go wrong, but believe me, this is very far from the truth.  Where the Encore team excelled and others have failed, was how each member of the cast, within minutes of their first arrival on stage, established both their individuality, be they pupil, staff or headmaster and also their place in the tight knit public-school Oxbridge scholarship class. Although very much an ensemble play, it is key that the ‘Boys’ establish their individuality without becoming cliches and here the direction from Christoper and Eleanor coupled with the talents of all the cast shone through in every scene. 

Robert Stott-Marshall gave Dakin the apparently effortless, easy charm Dakin likes to portray, while at the same time bringing out the empathy and support he has for his classmates and also Hector who he knows is no predator, just a frustrated man heading towards the end of his better days.  Arden-Caspar Jennison, brought all his musical vocal talent and acting ability to his portrayal of Posner and he excelled in portraying Posner’s despair that he could not express out-loud his love for Dakin which was therefore, sadly, unrequited at school and into later life.  Robert McAuley again used his musical talent to great effect together with his impressive acting bringing light and shade to his portrayal of Scipps.  Sometimes the joker, sometimes with a great deal of pathos, Robert caught the eye without overacting or upstaging in any scene.  James Wallace was spot on as Rudge which although is not the biggest role is the only one of the “Boys” with a more down- to-earth outlook on life and James added that dimension to the overall production to great effect. 

Matt McAuley used all his comic timing in his portrayal of Timms the class joker.  Matt managed to focus his energy to specific scene highlights which made Timms a very three-dimensional character rather than a bland class fool always going over-the-top.  Shantanu Bhumbra brought Ahktar to life with another three-dimensional portrayal that ensured his character gave a wider dimension to the outlook of his classmates.  Harvey Latter was clearly enjoying his role as Lockwood and his energy and supporting performance added to the class dynamics, and Rhodri Denton, in his first experience of a straight play, brought just the right attitude and light-and-shade to his portrayal of Crowther.

Turning to the Teachers, George Lamb was on great form as Irwin, the supply teacher recruited to drive up the schools success in Oxbridge exams.  George manged to bring out the ego, intellect, sexual and personal ambiguity of Irwin without becoming “showy” which meant the audience were always engaged in his story as it evolved throughout the play.  Terry Stevenson’s portrayal of Hector was very sympathetic.  He ensured that the complexity of the ageing schoolmaster, who locked the class door when teaching the boys, who took select boys on inappropriate motor-cycle rides and who could see he was coming to the end of the life he loved teaching the scholarship class was always at the heart of his performance.  Lizzie Norris, was simply stunning as Mrs Lintott the only female teacher in the male dominated world.  Lizzie used all her experience of both teaching and 25 years on stage to bring out the frustration of being judged not on her ability to teach but on getting the school higher up league tables.  Adam Worton brought just the right touch to the Headmaster as he manipulated his staff to drive Oxbridge success and shield himself, and the boys as more of an after-thought, from potential scandal and abuse.

None of the this success happens by Osmosis and it was clear what hard work that had gone into the rehearsal period by Christoper and Eleanor to bring out these acting performances.  The staging was also very effective with the apparently effortless scene changes driven by rearranging the desks on the stage to a great 80’s soundtrack.  Lighting was always sympathetic to the mood of the scenes, and although occasionally diction was lost against the soundtrack at the start of some scenes, this did not detract from the very impressive production.

Congratulations all, the best production of the History Boys I have seen.

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